Systematic Theology (Volume 3 of 3)Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Religion
Systematic Theology (Volume 3 of 3)
Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Baptists -- Doctrines; Theology, Doctrinal
All this comes to us in Christ. We participate in the rewards
promised to his obedience: _John 20:31_—“_that believing ye may
have life in his name_”; _1 Cor. 3:21‐23_—“_For all things are
yours; ... all are yours; and ye are Christ’s; and Christ is
God’s._” Denovan, Toronto Baptist, Dec. 1883, maintains that
“grace operates in two ways: (1) for the _rebel_ it provides a
scheme of _justification_,—this is judicial, matter of debt; (2)
for the _child_ it provides pardon,—fatherly forgiveness on
repentance.” _Heb. 7:19_—“_the law made nothing perfect ... a
bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh
unto God._” This “_better hope_” is offered to us in Christ’s
death and resurrection. The veil of the temple was the symbol of
separation from God. The rending of that veil was the symbol on
the one hand that sin had been atoned for, and on the other hand
that unrestricted access to God was now permitted us in Christ the
great forerunner. Bonar’s hymn, “Jesus, whom angel hosts adore,”
has for its concluding stanza: “’T is finished all: the veil is
rent. The welcome sure, the access free:—Now then, we leave our
banishment, O Father, to return to thee!” See pages 749 (_b_), 770
(_h_).
James Russell Lowell: “At the devil’s booth all things are sold.
Each ounce of dross costs its ounce of gold; For a cap and bells
our lives we pay: Bubbles we buy with a whole soul’s tasking; ’T
is heaven alone that is given away, ’T is only God may be had for
the asking.” John G. Whittier: “The hour draws near, howe’er
delayed and late, When at the Eternal Gate, We leave the words and
works we call our own, And lift void hands alone For love to fill.
Our nakedness of soul Brings to that gate no toll; Giftless we
come to him who all things gives, And live because he lives.”
H. B. Smith, System of Christian Doctrine, 523, 524—“Justification
and pardon are not the same in Scripture. We object to the view of
Emmons (Works, vol. 5), that ‘justification is no more nor less
than pardon,’ and that ‘God rewards men for their own, and not
Christ’s, obedience,’ for the reason that the words, as used in
common life, relate to wholly different things. If a man is
declared just by a human tribunal, he is not pardoned, he is
acquitted; his own inherent righteousness, as respects the charge
against him, is recognized and declared. The gospel proclaims both
pardon and justification. There is no significance in the use of
the word ‘justify,’ if pardon be all that is intended....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account